Hundreds protest death of Kelly Thomas

Christine Walker, left, of Fullerton is embraced by boyfriend Phil Browning, of Fullerton, at a protest rally for the the death of Kelly Thomas in the hands of Fullerton Police.ANA VENEGAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

FULLERTON – Hundreds of protesters rallied Saturday outside the Fullerton Police Department, demanding answers and resignations because of the death of a mentally ill man after a violent confrontation with officers.

The protest was peaceful, but it was also loud and angry, with signs denouncing the death of Kelly Thomas as murder and chants calling for justice. Police closed a street next to the police station to make way for the protesters but otherwise stayed away.

Among those on the picket line was Thomas' father, mother and other family members. His father, Ron, said the protest shows that people are not backing down in their demand for answers, more than a month after his son's death. He said he wants criminal charges against the officers involved in what he called a hate crime against the mentally ill, to include capital murder.

"As long as I'm alive, they will be charged. I'm not going to go quietly," he said. He added: "You bet I want the death penalty. I'll pull the switch myself."

Police say Kelly Thomas struggled when officers tried to search him while investigating burglary reports last month, and it took six officers to subdue him. Thomas suffered severe head and neck injuries and was taken off life support five days later. A photograph of his bruised and bloody face has drawn national attention to his death.

The six officers have been put on paid administrative leave. Two members of the City Council have also called for the resignation of Police Chief Michael Sellers, saying he hasn't done enough to address public questions and concerns.

Saturday's six-hour protest drew nearly 500 people at its peak, despite unrelenting sun and little shade. Some remembered Kelly Thomas as a shy and unassuming man who lived on the streets and frequented downtown Fullerton. Many others had never met Thomas but were drawn by news of his death and the photograph of his face.

Eddie Quinonez, 26, carried a sign saying that he had witnessed Thomas' death. He said he was waiting for a bus at Fullerton's transit station when he saw police approach Thomas and try to search a duffle bag he was carrying. Thomas pulled away when an officer tried to grab his arm, Quinonez said.

After that, "they were holding him down. All the officers were just assailing him," said Quinonez, who said he has talked to investigators with the District Attorney's Office. "It was impossible for him to be resisting."

Thomas had a long and well-documented history of mental illness, records show. His family and county officials had sought for years to have him committed to treatment centers for his schizophrenia; but, his father said, he would be released as soon as he was deemed stable on his medications. Without those, his father said his behavior was childlike.

Many of the signs held high at Saturday's protest called for better treatment of the mentally ill. "Mental illness is not punishable by death," one read. Ron Thomas said he hopes to develop a "Kelly's Law" that would improve the care and treatment of people like his son.

Other signs demanded the resignation of Chief Sellers and the release of a surveillance tape that investigators say shows part of the altercation, but has not been made public. Protesters also lined up to sign their names to a recall effort, organized by the Friends for Fullerton's Future blog, against the mayor and two council members, in part for their handling of the Kelly Thomas case.

"I'm just overwhelmed with happiness to see this many people," Kelly Thomas' mother, Cathy, said as protesters around her chanted, "Justice... Now!"

"It's just overwhelming," she said. "I'm feeling a lot of love today, for Kelly, for the family."

Christine Walker, left, of Fullerton is embraced by boyfriend Phil Browning, of Fullerton, at a protest rally for the the death of Kelly Thomas in the hands of Fullerton Police. ANA VENEGAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Kelly Thomas' mother Cathy Thomas, center, of Placentia, listens to singer Julian Porte, right, of Whittier, perform "The Ballad of Kelly Thomas." Porte wrote the song in remembrance of Kelly Thomas and performed it at a rally in front of the Fullerton Police Department on Saturday. ANA VENEGAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Ken Mortimer, left, of Tehachapi, and Meghann Horton, right, of Norco, chant during a rally in front of the Fullerton Police Station on Saturday to protest the death of Kelly Thomas. ANA VENEGAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Kelly Thomas' father Ron Thomas, left, talks with Greg Atkin, right, of Anaheim, who has a son who was also homeless in Fullerton but who as able to get treatment and get off the streets. ANA VENEGAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Jeremy Sturdivant, of Placentia, at a rally in front of the Fullerton Police Station on Saturday. The rally was in protest of the death of Kelly Thomas at the hands of Fullerton police. ANA VENEGAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Owen Gordon, of Garden Grove, leads chants at a rally to protest the death of Kelly Thomas in Fullerton. The event drew about 300 protesters to the corner of Highland and W. Commonwealth on Saturday. ANA VENEGAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Protesters cheer honking cars in front of the Fullerton Police Station on Saturday. ANA VENEGAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Christine Gruenberg, of Orange, left, screams out in protest during a rally Saturday to protest the death of Kelly Thomas. The event drew out about 300 protesters. ANA VENEGAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Larry Dewitt Williams holds a sign up to passing cars at a rally in front of the Fullerton Police Station on Saturday. Williams said he knew Kelly Thomas. ANA VENEGAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Brian Castaneda, right, of Perris, holds up before and after photos of Kelly Thomas as Gary Tayles, left, of Fullerton, waves a flag. Over 300 protesters rallied in front of the Fullerton Police Station on Saturday. The event protested the death of Kelly Thomas at the hands of Fullerton police. ANA VENEGAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Protesters stir things up at the corner of W. Commonwealth and Highland in Fullerton. About 300 protesters reacted to the death of Kelly Thomas who was homeless and mentally ill. ANA VENEGAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
A protester at a rally in front of the Fullerton Police Station on Saturday to protest the death of Kelly Thomas at the hands of Fullerton police. ANA VENEGAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Cathy Thomas, mother of Kelly Thomas, holds a sign at a rally protesting the death of her son. ANA VENEGAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Owen Gordon, far right, of Garden Grove, at a rally of 300 protesters at the corner of Highland and W. Commonwealth on Saturday. ANA VENEGAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
A large turnout of protesters rally in front of the Fullerton Police Department where police closed off a street. Cathy Thomas, mother of Kelly Thomas, holds the orange sign in the middle. ANA VENEGAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
With the Fullerton Police Department in the background, protesters rally at the corner of W. Commonwealth and Highland in Fullerton. ANA VENEGAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Protesters rally at the corner of W. Commonwealth and Highland in Fullerton. About 300 people participated in the protest. ANA VENEGAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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